The day Stephen King fans have been waiting for is finally here: Production has officially begun on the movie version of King's classic horror novel "It."

Director Andy Muschietti revealed the good news on social media this week, sharing an Instagram photo of his director's chair featuring the film's simple, sinister-looking logo. Muschietti captioned the pic simply: "Day one."

Day one

A photo posted by Andy Muschietti (@andy_muschietti) on


That day has been a long time coming for "It" fans, with lots of behind the scenes drama plaguing the production over the past year. "True Detective" and "Beasts of No Nation" helmer Cary Fukunaga was initially brought on board for the project, promising an innovative vision for the story that necessitated splitting King's massive novel into two separate films that focused on the story's central group of friends as kids in the first flick, and adults in the second.

But Fukunaga and studio New Line reportedly could not agree on a suitable budget for the first film, leading the director to bolt from the project back in May 2015, only a few weeks before filming was set to begin. At the time, King thought that the project was probably dead, but eventually Muschietti (who directed the horror hit "Mama") was brought in as a replacement, and work began on the new version of the film.

Muschietti will still make two "It" movies, and is starting, as Fukunaga planned, with the kids. That group of actors includes Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, and Jeremy Ray Taylor. The titular evil clown -- a.k.a. Pennywise -- will be played by Bill Skarsgard ("Hemlock Grove"), who "It" TV miniseries.)

"It" is due in theaters on September 8, 2017.

[via: Andy Muschietti]

Photo credit: Andy Muschietti